Why is Mark Carney attracting so many floor-crossers?

Feb 21, 2026

Guest

Nathan Cullen

Guest

Nathan Cullen, former NDP MP from Northwest BC, offers perspective on party rebuilding. Stephen Fuhr, ministerial lead on defence procurement, outlines industrial strategy goals. Murray Brewster, CBC defence correspondent, assesses procurement and readiness. Shannon Proudfoot, Globe feature writer, and Stuart Thomson, National Post bureau chief, analyze recent floor-crossings and party dynamics. Multiple short discussions on defence plans, trade risks, and political manoeuvres.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Alberta MP Took Big Social Risk Crossing

Matt Jeneru's defection mattered because he is an Alberta Conservative with deep party roots.
Stuart Thomson notes Jeneru risked losing many friends by crossing to the Liberals.

INSIGHT

Floor Crossings Reflect Momentum, Not Just Motives

Floor crossings signal more than individual grievances; they reflect momentum and perceived electability shifts in parties.
Stuart Thomson and Shannon Proudfoot say MPs defect when they see a winner and fear being on the losing side.

INSIGHT

Leader Popularity Drives Defections

Mark Carney's personal approval boosts Liberal attractiveness beyond party popularity.
Stuart says MPs respond to Carney's high personal numbers, making defections likelier.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Once again, Prime Minister Mark Carney has convinced a Conservative to cross the floor and join his Liberal Party — the third MP to do so in just a few months. And it comes as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre tries to manage the fallout from a caucus member’s trip to Washington. The National Post's Stuart Thomson and the Globe and Mail's Shannon Proudfoot take a look at Poilievre’s mounting challenges and how close the Liberals may be to a majority.

Plus, the U.S Supreme Court ruled this week that Donald Trump exceeded his authority by imposing sweeping emergency tariffs on trading partners, but the president says he won't back down. Brian Clow, former deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, joins Catherine Cullen to discuss whether the ruling will help — or hurt — Canada.

Next, the government announced its long-awaited defence industrial strategy this week, with ambitious goals to boost exports, create 125,000 jobs and award 70 per cent of defence contracts to Canadian companies. But will it mean Canadian troops get the equipment they need? The House visits a local Ottawa defence tech company for their take; CBC’s senior defence writer Murray Brewster breaks down the government’s plans; and Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr discusses the road ahead.

And New Democrats are entering the final stretch of their federal leadership race as five contenders took the stage in B.C. Thursday for one last candidates’ debate. Former NDP MPs Nathan Cullen and Matthew Green join The House to weigh in on their pitches, the tensions and the contrasting visions for a party hoping to build back after winning just seven seats in the last election.

This episode features the voices of:

Brian Clow, former deputy chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Stuart Thomson, parliamentary bureau chief for the National Post
Shannon Proudfoot, feature writer for The Globe and Mail
Micah Grinstead, senior director of operations at Calian
Chris Pogue, president of defence and space at Calian
Murray Brewster, CBC News’ senior defence correspondent
Stephen Fuhr, secretary of state for defence procurement
Nathan Cullen, former NDP MP
Matthew Green, former NDP MP